Mangrove Restoration in India

India has witnessed notable mangrove restoration efforts across Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, aimed at enhancing coastal resilience and biodiversity amid rising climate and urban threats.

Mangroves and Coastal Ecosystem Conservation

1. Importance of Mangroves

• Ecological Significance:
  • Mangroves are intertidal forests found in tropical and subtropical tidal areas.
  • They serve as natural buffers against cyclones, tsunamis, and tidal surges.
  • Act as breeding and nursery habitats for fish, crustaceans, and birds.
  • Trap and store significant amounts of blue carbon in biomass and soil.
• Climate Resilience Role:
  • During the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and cyclonic events in the Bay of Bengal, mangroves significantly mitigated damage and saved lives.
  • Reduce coastal erosion and salinisation of coastal agricultural lands.
• Livelihood and Cultural Relevance:
  • Integral to the sustenance of traditional fisherfolk and honey gatherers.
  • Support ecotourism and small-scale fisheries in coastal belts.

2. India’s Mangrove Coverage and Threats

• Current Extent:
  • India has over 4,900 sq. km of mangroves, majorly found in West Bengal (Sundarbans), Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.
• Threats to Survival:
  • Urban encroachments, industrialisation, shrimp farming, plastic pollution.
  • Disruption of tidal flows and hydrology.
  • Rising sea levels and altered salinity due to climate change.

3. Restoration Efforts Across States

• Tamil Nadu Initiatives:
  • Green Tamil Nadu Mission and other coastal schemes have nearly doubled mangrove cover from 4,500 to over 9,000 hectares between 2021–2024.
  • Restoration in Muthupettai Estuary and Kazhipattur region focused on community engagement, canal dredging, and removal of invasive species.
  • Use of native species like Avicennia marina and Rhizophora.
• Maharashtra (Mumbai) Project:
  • Partnership of Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund, Hasten Regeneration, and BMC to revive mangroves at Thane Creek.
  • Introduction of trash booms to prevent plastic inflow.
  • Plan to plant 3.75 lakh saplings and support women through employment.
• Gujarat's Lead Role:
  • Under MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes), Gujarat has planted over 19,000 hectares in two years.
  • Surpassed Central targets using scientific coastal mapping.
  • Accounts for 23.6% of India’s mangrove cover.

4. Government Schemes and Policy Support

• MISHTI Scheme (Launched in 2023):
  • Implemented under CAMPA funds and MGNREGA.
  • Focuses on mangrove afforestation and restoration to strengthen coastal resilience.
• Green India Mission:
  • Promotes forest and biodiversity conservation with a focus on carbon sequestration and climate adaptation.
• State Forest Departments and NGOs:
  • Increasing collaborations with local communities and scientific institutions.

5. Way Forward

• Mainstream Mangroves in Climate Policy: Integrate mangrove conservation in State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs).
• Community Involvement and Ecotourism: Enhance local stewardship by incentivising traditional communities for conservation.
• Tide-Responsive Infrastructure: Ensure restoration projects account for local hydrology, species diversity, and tidal regimes.
• Pollution Control and Urban Planning: Enforce urban waste segregation, remove plastic inflows, and restrict illegal encroachments.
• Monitoring and Data Systems: Use remote sensing and GIS for long-term monitoring, performance evaluation, and planning.